POLICE have stepped up patrols in the Paphos village of Tala which has seen a cluster of break-ins over the past couple of weeks, and are warning residents to be more safety conscious.
Paphos police spokesman, Nicos Tsappis said: “We would advise residents to take as many measures as possible to avoid becoming the victim of a burglary. Safety locks should be fitted on all windows and doors and if possible, alarm systems and CCTV should be fitted to homes.”
He added: “I realise that installing CCTV is expensive but alarm systems are also effective and cheaper.”
Tsappis also suggested that home owners leave the lights on when absent and ask trustworthy neighbours to keep a watchful eye on their properties.
“In the summer months we seem to get more reports of burglaries. This is because some people leave to go on holiday, so their properties are empty, and also those with holiday homes arrive. This means there are more goods in these houses for would-be thieves to steal,” the police spokesman said.
Tala community leader Areti Pieridou said she didn’t think that overall Tala was seeing more burglaries than other areas.
“But we have seen a number of break-ins since the beginning of the year and in some cases we believe it may be the work of an organised gang.”
In a number of incidents, Pieridou says it appears as if the thieves knew at exactly what time to break in and where to go in the house.
“Two couples who were victims of burglaries, both told me that the thieves had obviously gone straight into their bedroom where the safes were kept and taken jewellry from them. Nothing else was disturbed in the houses,” she said.
“We have also had a burglary at the local school. Two laptops were taken which were on the top of desks and could be seen from the window.”
Tala has a large number of British ex pat homeowners and residents and both foreigners and Cypriots have been the victim of thieves.
“At the end of January, two homes belonging to Cypriots were also broken into,” Pieridou said.
Also the home in Kamares was broken into when the owner, a South African Cypriot, was absent.
“The thieves knew what they were after. They also took the safe belonging to the homeowner, which was extremely heavy and would’ve needed a lorry to take it away.”
In response, police say they have increased their presence in the area and have also supplied residents with leaflets on crime prevention, in an attempt to ease the situation.
Pieridou said: “I do think we have had more burglaries this year so far, but I think it’s the same all over Paphos. I also believe the thefts are being committed by both foreign and Cypriot nationals who are unemployed. This is obvious when you look at what items they are stealing.”
She added: “Generally Tala is a safe place to live. But we must all be more vigilant about home security, including myself.”
